Our Team
Mary C. Bula, EXECUTIVE Director
Phone: (814) 240-8432
Email: mary@erietogether.org
Mary Bula has led Erie Together since 2012 and now serves as its Executive Director, guiding countywide collaborative efforts to help make the Erie region a community of opportunity where everyone can learn, work, and thrive.
Under Mary’s leadership, Erie Together convenes education, employers, workforce development, government, nonprofits, and citizens to develop and advance cross-sector strategies. Through this work, Erie Together helps strengthen career-connected learning systems, support workforce and talent pipeline development, and support improved outcomes for individuals, families, and the region.
Mary has led or helped guide numerous transformational regional initiatives, including development and oversight of Career Street, creation and facilitation of the Erie County Career Pathways Alliance, strategy development for the Erie County Re-Entry Services and Support Alliance, and leadership of the Erie County Human Services Cohorts initiative, among others.
Before joining Erie Together, Mary served as Vice President of the Growth Partnership Division of the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership, where she worked with business, government, and community leaders to advance strategic initiatives supporting the region’s economic vitality.
Earlier in her career, Mary worked for the Center for eBusiness and Advanced IT (eBizITPA), where she helped develop partnerships and programs promoting information technology awareness and adoption across Pennsylvania and played a key role in the drafting and passage of PA Act 88 of 2006, authorizing Internet-based competitive bidding and quoting for local governments.
Mary also spent ten years as a local government consultant with the Pennsylvania Economy League and previously held leadership and student services roles with Perseus House, Inc. and the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville.
An accomplished facilitator and coalition builder, Mary serves on several nonprofit, education, workforce, and youth-related boards and committees. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Allegheny College and a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.
Mary has been recognized as one of the Women Making History by the Mercy Center for Women, one of the Erie Times News’ “Inspiring People,” Citizen of the Year by the northwest Pennsylvania chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, and a recipient of the “Generation e Leadership Award” from Young Erie Professionals. She is also a graduate of Leadership Erie.
Jennifer Pontzer, Career Street Director
Phone: (814) 572-0419
Email: jpontzer@careerstreeterie.org
Jennifer Pontzer is the director of Erie Together’s Career Street program and has been with the project since its launch in February 2014. Career Street is a very successful networking program connecting local employers and educators to provide students with a variety of PA state standards-aligned, age-appropriate career exploration experiences. As Career Street’s director, Jennifer has overseen the program’s launch, evolution and expansion into neighboring counties by collaborating with employers and educators across northwest PA. Career Street has become a “go to” resource for both educators and employers to provide K-12 career exploration experiences, and is known statewide and beyond.
Prior to her involvement with Career Street, Jennifer worked as a constituent service representative for U.S. Congressman Mike Kelly managing constituent needs, representing the congressman at public events and scheduling his appointments when he was in the Erie area. She worked with Representative Kelly for three years.
Jennifer has a B.A. in education from Westminster College. She serves on several boards and committees focused on education and workforce development. She also serves on the Hamot Health Foundation Board of Corporators, as well as the host committee for the Ladies Only Luncheon for the Barber National Institute (2018 Chairwoman). She is an experienced licensed real estate agent and has served as a ruling elder in her church.